Locking means for hinge-pins



J. F. ROWLEY.

LOCKING MEANS FOR HINGE PINS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25, 1919.

Patented Oct, 26, 1920.

warren stares JAMES RowLnY, onYci rcAGo, InLIivoIs.

LocKINc ivrEAivs" FOR HINGE-PINS.

Application filed September 25, 1919. SeriaI No. 326,282.

'1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns F. RoWLnY, a citizen of the United States of America,

and aresident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Means for Hinge-Pins, ofwhich the followingis a specification.

The main objects of this invention areto provide an improved locking means for V securing in place a hinge pin which pivotally connects two members; to provide an improved locking means carried by the pin and coacting with the member which supports the pin so as to secure the same against relative moving with respect to said member; and to provide improved means of this kind particularly adapted for use on hinge joints for artificial limbs.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a pair of pivotally connected members to which has been applied a locking means embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking means.

vThe specific embodiment of the hinge joint herein shown is such as is commonly used for pivotally connecting two parts of an artificial leg. Such a joint comprises a member 1 having a forked or bifurcated end 2 in which a reduced portion 3 of the member 4' is pivotally supported by a hinge p As herein shown, the opposed faces of the part 3 and one part of the bifurcated end 2 are provided with ball races 6 and 7 respectively in which ball-bearings 8 are mounted. Similarly, the opposed faces of said reduced part 3 and the hinge pin 5 are provided with ball races 9 and 10 in which ball-bearings 11 are mounted. The particular arrangement of these ball races and balls is not an essential part of this invention, but is merely illustrative of one form of hinge connection for which this locking means is particularly suitable.

The hinge pin 5 as herein shown com-- prises a shank 12 and a head 13. The shank 12 is provided with threads 14 whereby the shank is adapted to be screwed into a threaded aperture 15 in one side of the bi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented o t.26, 1920.

furcated end 2. i Likewise, threadsv 16 a-re formed on the head 12, whereby said head; 7

is screwed into athreaded hole 17 formed in the other part of said bifurcatedend- 2.

Recesses 18 are formed in the face of the} head 13 so as to receive a spanner wrench by which the pin is secured in place infthe member 1 or removed therefrom.

Th locking means comprises a plate '19 and a, concentrically arranged stem 20. The

plate 19 is of concave form and of larger diameter than the head 13 of the hinge pin o. The stem 20 is threaded so as to screw into an axially disposedthreaded recess 21" plied and operates in substantially the following manner: 1

The hinge pin 5 is first secured in, place to properly connect the members land 4, and the other coacting parts which make up the joint. The locking means is then applied by screwing the stem 20 into the threaded aperture 21, and by means of a spanner wrench, screwingthis down as firmly as possible. This action causes the edge or periphery 23 of the plate 19 to firmly bear against the face 24 of the member 1, and'at the same time tends to urge the pivot pin 5 axially outward so as to thereby urge the threads 14 and 16 on the shank 12 and head 13 respectively, firmly against the coacting threads of the holes 15 and 17, so that it is practically impossible for the hinge pin 5 to become loosened from. the member 1, notwithstanding the shifting pressure of the member 4 against said pin.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined together, a plateof larger diameter than,

said hinge pin and having a rim formed and located to engage said member outside of said pin, and coacting means on said plate and pin independent of the threads 15 a against the adjacent face of said bifurcated against one "of said members so as to frictionally lock said pin to said last mentioned members.

2. The combination of a pair of members,

one of said members having a bifurcated end and the other member having a part Within said bifurcated end, a hinge pin having threaded engagement with said bifurcated end, saidhinge pin having an axially disposed threaded recess formed in one end thereof, an inwardly concave plate having a threaded stem screwed-into said recess for drawing the edge of said plate end to lock said pin to said one member.

3. The comblnation of a pair of members, one of said members having a bifurcated ,end and the'other member having apart within said bifurcated end, a hinge pin comprising a head and shank having threaded engagement respectively with the two parts of said bifurcated. end, said hinge pin having an axially disposed recess formed in the head thereof, a plate of larger diameter than said head and co'ncavely shaped to provide an annular rim'spaced axially away from the body of said plate and located beyond the periphery of said head, a threadedstem on said plate screwed into said recess for drawing the edge of said plate against the adjacent face of said bifurcated end to lock said pin in place.

Signed at Chicago this 23 day of Sept. 1919.

JAMES F. ROWLEY. 

